Posts Tagged ‘Mercury’

Springtime for Toxics
By Paul Krugman
Here’s what I wanted for Christmas: something that would make us both healthier and richer. And since I was just making a wish, why not ask that Americans get smarter, too?
Surprise: I got my wish, in the form of new Environmental Protection Agency standards on mercury and air toxics for power plants. These rules are long overdue: we were supposed to start regulating mercury more than 20 years ago. But the rules are
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Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet, reaches its greatest western elongation from the sun on Saturday, May 7. Because Mercury is farthest west of the sun at present, this world now rises into the morning sky before sunrise – but how much before depends on where you live on the globe.
The farther north you live, the closer Mercury rises to sunrise. The farther south you live, the greater the period of
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Only Venus easily visible
We show the moon and planets for about 30 minutes before sunrise tomorrow (Saturday, April 30) as seen from North American mid-northern latitudes. At mid-northern latitudes all around the world, the only two worlds that you are likely to see before sunrise tomorrow are the moon and blazing planet Venus. Look for them low in the east some 60 to 30 minutes before sunup. Binoculars might
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Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet, never strays far from the sun and into Earth’s nighttime sky. Today, however, this world reaches its greatest elongation east of the sun at 7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Mercury swings to the end of its tether, at 19 degrees east of the sun. (For reference, your fist at an arm’s length approximates 10 degrees of sky.)
Nineteen degrees east of the sun is not very
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After the sun sets, you can see the elusive planet Mercury – and the even more elusive zodiacal light – in the western sky. For those living in the northern hemisphere, this next week presents the best chance in all of 2011 to see Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet. Meanwhile, if you have a very dark sky, the zodiacal light can be seen in the west about an hour after sunset through March and
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The planets Mercury and Jupiter meet up for a conjunction today. Conjunction means that these two worlds stand north and south of one another in right ascension. (Right ascension on the sky’s dome is the equivalent of longitude here on Earth.) Mercury swings north of Jupiter at 17 hours Universal Time (12:00 noon Central Daylight Time) on March 16.
In the Americas, this conjunction takes place during the
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If you can find the blazing planet Jupiter in your western sky after sunset, you are virtually assured of seeing Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet. As long as your western horizon is free of obstruction – like houses, trees, or cloud cover – Mercury should be yours tonight.
Remember to start your search soon after sunset, because these two worlds will set about 80 minutes after sundown (at
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If you have clear skies and live in the northern hemisphere, you should have no trouble spotting the waxing crescent moon and the blazing planet Jupiter after sunset, but the planet Mercury is a different story altogether. At mid-northern latitudes around the world tonight, Mercury follows the sun beneath the horizon around 45 minutes after sunset. The moon and Jupiter stay out until after dark.
Looking for a sky
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Bright star on January 2011 evenings? It’s the planet Jupiter
Tomorrow – on Sunday, January 9, 2011 – the planet Mercury swings to its greatest distance west of the sun as seen in Earth’s sky. That means people around the world with a level horizon and a clear sky can view Mercury climbing over the eastern horizon just as darkness gives way to dawn. If you don’t see Mercury right away, wait for this
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If you rise shortly before sunup tomorrow (Sunday, January 2), you might catch the waning crescent moon and elusive planet Mercury below brilliant Venus. Look in the direction of the sunrise – but an hour or more before the sun comes up.
Looking for a sky almanac? EarthSky recommends
You will need a clear view of the sky, because any obstructions such as mountains or trees will hide the moon and Mercury from
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